THE PROPER SELECTION, USE AND MAINTENANCE OF DRILLS CAN AFFECT A MANUFACTURER'S PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY. THIS PAPER EXAMINES THE FUNDAMENTALS AND EVOLUTION OF TWIST DRILL POINT GEOMETRY. EXPLANATIONS OF BASIC DRILL TERMINOLOGY SET THE FOUNDATION FOR MORE DETAILED DISCUSSIONS OF THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SPECIFIC POINT STYLES. TWO CASE EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATE THE VALUE OF PROPER TOOL SELECTION. THE COMPLEXITY OF MODERN POINT STYLES MADE THE DRILL GRINDING MACHINE A STANDARD TOOL ROOM COMPONENT. THE BASIC FEATURES REQUIRED IN A DRILL POINT GRINDER ARE EVALUATED.